Piano action



Feb. 24, 1959 Filed Aug. 16, 1954 c. R. DOWLING 2,874,601

PIANO ACTION 2 Sheets-Sheet l v INVENTOR ATTORNEY Feb. 24, 1959 c. R.DOWLING PIANO ACTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 16. 1954 INVENTOR BY 5M ATTORNEY United States Patent PIANO ACTION Charles R. Dowling, Newark,Ohio Application August 16, 1954, Serial No. 449,829

6 Claims. (Cl. 84-240) This invention relates to piano actions, theprimary objects of the invention being to provide a piano action timedoperation and unusual compactness, particularly in its heightdimensions.

' A further object is to provide a piano action which is formed toinclude a mounting post adapted to be attached to an associated actionrail of a piano frame by a single, readily accessible screw, and whereinthe post has pivotally mounted thereon a key-actuated whippen to whichis directly hinged the shank of a hammer, the hinge employed being ofsuch design as to cause the hammer to swing in one direction in unisonwith the whippen to strike an associated tuned piano string, and toenable the hammer to move in the opposite direction, independently ofthe whippen, out of engagement with the string following tune-producingcontact therewith.

A still further object is to provide a piano action of the typeindicated which includes in combination with the whippen and hammerelements a novel jack lever assembly whose function it is to cause thehammer hingedly mounted on the pivoted whippen to swing positively inunison with the whippen when the hammer is being moved into strikingcontact with an associated piano string, and wherein a release mechanismis provided in association with the jack lever assembly to cause thelatter to assume a position releasing the hammer for rocking movementindependently of the whippen on which it is carried, whereby to spacethe head of the hammer from said string immediately following itsvibration-producing contact therewith and at the same time to return thehammer immediately to a position to be moved in unison with the whippenupon successive actuations of the assd ciated piano key.

These and additional objects and advantages of the present inventionwill become more readily apparent by reference to the followingdescription and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken through a pianoframe, and illustrating in side elevation Fig. 6 is a detail sectionalview disclosing the hinge union between the hammer shank and whippen barof the action;

Fig. 7 is a detail vertical sectional view on the line 77 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a similar view through the key mounting and levelling means.

Referring to the mechanism illustrated in the drawings, and the variousdetail parts thereof by reference characters, my improved piano actionis actuated by the usual finger-operated keys, one of which is shown at10. As illustrated, the construction includes the usual horizontal andstationary frame-supported key bed rails 11 on which rests an end rail12. At the front of the bed rails there is' stationarily arranged a keyslip 13 and to the rear of the latter and carried by the end rail 12 isa horizontal front rail 14. Projecting upwardly from the front rail arethe usual front pins 15' for key guidance, the upper surface of thefront rail, adjacent to the pins, being provided with front key cushions16, which yieldably check key depression. The forward end of each key isequipped with the usual .top covering 17 of ivory or the like and afront covering 18. A cooperative sharp key is shown at 19.

In rockably supporting the keys 10, each key, interme diately of itslength, is formed with a slot 20 having downwardly tapering andconverging walls. Each slot receives the stationary upper portion of avertically disposed balance pin 21. The lower end of each pin 21 isthreaded into openings provided therefor in the bed rails 11, end rail12 and a balance rail 22. Intermediately of its length each pin 21 isformed with a fixed collar 23 which forms a base on which an associatedkey rests and fulcrums. The upper end of each pin projects above the keyassociated therewith and is squared for the reception of a detachableturning wrench, not shown, whereby the pin may be raised or lowered inadjusting or levelling key action to obtain desired operation thereofand in a manner eliminating the use of shims and other removable raisingand lowering means customarily employed in obtaining these adjustments.

The inner or rear end of each acuating key 10 rests normally, as shownin Figs. 1 and 2, on a key rest strip 25 of felt or the like. The stripis carried by a key rest rail 26, which may be hinged as at 27 to thekey bed rail 11. The underside of the key rest rail 26 may be engagedwith the upper end of a vertically movable, foot-pedal actuated post 28which is slidably supported in connection with the rearmost of the bedrails 11, and may be operated to soften hammer action, as will bepresently explained.

Stationarily carried by the frame structure, not shown, of the piano andarranged adjacent to the rear or inner ends of the keys 10 is an actionrail 29. The latter has its upper and forward longitudinally extendingedge inwardly recessed at 30 to receive, in registry with the rear endof each key 10, the lower end of an upright mounting member or hammerassembly post 31. The lower part of the back face of each post 31 may begrooved to receive a positioning rib 32 formed with the vertical face ofthe recess 30. A single fastening screw 33 is preferably employed insecurely joining the lower end of each post 31 with the action rail 29and-to retain the same in its proper position thereon. The removal ofthis screw 35 enables the entire hammer action including itsaccompanying damper means, to be removed from the action rail as a unit.

Each of the hammer assembly posts 31 includes a vertically extendingslot 34 in which is positioned for oscillatory movement in a verticalplane the inner reduced end 34a of a bar-like whippen 35. A horizontalpivot pin 36 may be used in pivotally uniting each whippen with itsassociated post 31, so that the whippen may oscillate freelyinonedirection in response to vertical motion impartedtheretoby-a' key10and torespondto adjustable capstan 38 carried by and arising from therear end of each key 10.

Thus, when the outer end ofeachkey is depressed under finger pressure,the key so activated will rock verticallyi'on the balance rail'22 andthe collar 23 f the associated balance-rail-carried pin 21.This-actioncausesthe elevation of the rear e'nd' of the depressed key sothat the capstan 38 thereoffwill engage the cushion 37" to tilt thewhippen about its pivotedaxis'36 'in" a mannerlifting'the forward endthereof from the position-thereof illustrated'in-Fig. l tofthatjof Figi4E Pivotally mounted as at-"39 an, a hracket'j tmcarried byc'achwhippen. is" the lower endfof ahammer shankAl The hammershanktextendssubstantially perpendicularly;

upwardly'frorn the whippen and is provided atits lower part with a rigidforwin'dl'y'and laterally-projectingjaclc support 42 which is arrangedso that its long axis is perpendicular to thatof thehammer' shanle withwhich the jack support is. either integrally formed or securelyattached. Disposed between the under side of eachj'acksupport and theupper-surface of'the associatedwhippen' is a coil spring 43, whichserves normally to maintain the lower end of the hammer shank in contactwith a cushioning pad 43a arranged onthe fiat upper-surfaceof the:whippen 35, so that the whippen and hammershank carried thereby mayoperate undercertaincondi-- tions asa rigid unitary construction.

The jack support 42- of my improved piano action is formed with abifurcated forward end 44 forthereception of the intermediate portion ofa lever-like pack 45, the latter being pivotally joined, as at 46, tothe asso: eiated bifurcated end'of the support 42. The lower end of:each jack ispositioned to engage a shoulder or upper step 47 of abuckskin or felt-lined notch 48 formed in the extreme forward end ofeach whippen 35. 4

Itv will be evident that when a key isdepressed the rear or inner endthereof is elevated as a result of the rocking of the intermediate partof the depressed key on the balance rail 22. This upward movement of;the actuated key elevates the capstan 38 carried at the rear thereof.The capstan, through its engagement with the cushioned under surface 37'of the whippen 35 at a position forwardly of the.- pivot- 36,rocksisai'd whippen and the, hammer shank 41', advancing the head 49,which is fixedonthe upper endl of: each shank, into strikingcontactwith: the associated vertically disposed tuned wire string 50 ofthe: piano. Aslong as the jack 45 remains in its position of engagementwiththe. upper whippen shoulder or step 47, the hammer assembly, whichin cludes the whippen, jack support, jack, and'hammershank and head,will function as a rigid or integral unit.

-HoWever, immediately after the hammer head strikes the string 50,further depressing movement of the key 10 in response to the playingtouch of the musician, causes further rocking movement of the forwardpart of the whippen as a result of the lifting action of the capstan 38.The hammer shank, concomitantly with the head 49 striking the string-50,is further elevated with thewhippenand the head returns to a position inslightly spaced relation to the string, as; indicated by full lines inFig. 4. In this operation a jack'trip, button or contact member 51contacts the lower wedge-like part of a harp mer stop or earn member 52disposed on the forward face and at the upperend of thehammer-supporting mounting member or post-31.. The button or contactmember 51 of the hammer, assembly is. carried on he, inner end of a rod53 which. is slidably mounted in a bearing opening 53a therefor; formed,in. the thickened lower or butt partof the hammer shank 41. The innerend of this rod carries a connecting block-:54 to which A}. I

- lever arm- 45.

pivoted, as at 55, the upper end ofthe associated jack As will be.-understood, the.-. button. 51,. rod 53 and block 54 provide a plungermeans operable to disengage the lower end of the arm 45 from the upperstep or shoulder 47 of the whippen.

Thus, when the button 51 of the hammer assembly contacts the wedge stop52 during upward swinging movement of the hammer shank-41, the buttonrides upwardly over the outer cam surface 52 2 of the stop 52 and therod 53 is forced inwardly movingthe block 54 therewith and rocking theassociated jack arm 45.. in; a counterclockwise direction as viewed inFigs. 1, 2 and 4, to disengage theslower end-of the arm 45- fromtheuppenstep or shoulder 47. This action releasesthe hammer shank 41 andpermits the same to rock a slight distance backwardly out of engagementwith the string 50. In the same movement, the hammer shank 41 at thebutton 51 and the jack 45 are clamped firmly in the lower step or partof= notch 4840 prevent anyrebound-ing-ofjthehann men-head againstthetuned'string 5i Also; during elevation of the outerend portionofithe. whippen und'er: key-actuation, the innerve nd-l ortion there ofis rocked downwardly, causing a cushioned face.- cam, shoe 56 thereonltoengage the head'of an adjustable-screw 57 carried by the lower end of anassociated'damper lever 58. The. lever 58. is pivotally. supported, as;at 59,- on the outer end of' a forwardly directed extension 60 0fthetpost 31; A wire spring 61 is used to apply a force to thetlever, 58.normally maintaining the damper. pad'64. carried thereby in contact withthe associatedtunedstring; 50. The upper end of each lever 58; carriesaverticafi stem 62 on which; is. adjustably supported, a-damperhead631having the pad 64: for vibration-damping,engagements withitsassociated string 50.

Whenthe key 10 is depressed, as shown in Fig. 4, the;

shoe 56.0f the=key-actuated whippen.will besmovedd'owm wardly to anextent inwhich it fullycontacts. theiheadr of the. screw 5.7 of theassociated. damper lever 58, there.-. by rocking the latter about its.pivot 59. to withdraw-the; damper head '62 slightly fromvibrationvarresting con tact with the string 50; Suchwithdrawal takesvplaceima mediately prior to the engag'ementof the. hammer head with thestring and is maintained until the actuatingke-y' 10 isreleased.

After the key it? has been released by the musician, the; forward partof the whippen 35. descends gravitationally through rocking movement ofthe. whiph n about its pivot-36.011 post-3i. This action resultsinlowering; the hammer-mechanism to, the normal positionflshownin. Fig. 1,At thistirne, the spring 4.3;..and its associated u e. spring-45mreturn. the jack 4.5. to its normal engage eat; with. theuppershoulderor-notch 4.75 of 'tlte, h PPn.- re.-s'eati.ng-.- of the.- jacktakes, place. quiekl upon hey;- re. lease and within appz m'matelyneeigb h ofi nch keyitravel, allowing; quick. repetition for a succedingh mercontact. with string 50 without requifng th key-to hefully-releasedor lifted to its extreme elevatedrestposition, The.- post.28 in the usual manner, is-connected to be actuated or elevated by thesoft, pedal, not shown, oi the piano. The post 28, in turn, raises thehinged key rest strips. 25 and 26 which are hinged, at at 27-, to therail. 11. This operation serves to partially elevate the forward end ofthe key ltland brings the action closer to the strings 50, shorteningthe hammer; stroke enQJQQ l: equently. softening the tone. By. the same,action-the outer, finger-engaging ends of the. keys 1.0. are lowered,and the operating travel thereof shortened.

In view of the foregoing, it will be evident the present inventionprovides a simple yet efiicientpiano reduction in overall height of the,complete action. This end; is chieved by arranging most of the lever.compo nents laterally of the hammer shanks rather than below the same.In so doing, I am enabled to construct a piano of reduced heightdimensions as compared with one containing a conventional action, makingfeasible the use of a smaller outer case.

It will also be noted that each complete hammer action, followingremoval of a registering key, may be quickly and conveniently detachedfrom the action rail 29 merely by the removal of a single readilyaccessible screw.

It will be understood that the novel features of construction andarrangement of parts of the present invention may be embodied in otherstructural forms without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as the same have been defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A unitary mechanical piano action comprising: a mounting member fordetachable connection with a stationary frame element of a piano, a camformation on said mounting member, a shouldered key-actuated whippenpivotally mounted on said member, a hammer having a shank and astring-striking head, means pivotally uniting one end of the hammershank directly with an intermediate part of said whippen in a mannerproviding for bodily swinging movement of the hammer with said whippenwhen the latter is oscillated in an advancing direction to cause thehead of the hammer mounted thereon to strike an associated tuned pianostring, lever means pivotally carried by said shank and normally engagedwith a shoulder of said whippen, and plunger means slidably carried bysaid hammer shank, said plunger means being disposed to contact the camformation of said mounting member immediately following percussivecontact of the hammer head with said string to release said lever meansand produce independent limited return movement of said hammer about theaxis of pivotal connection thereof with said whippen.-

2. A unitary mechanical piano action comprising: a mounting member,means for detachably uniting said member and the piano action bodilycarried thereby with a supporting piano frame, a key-actuated shoulderedwhippen pivotally mounted on said member, a hammer including a shankhaving a string-striking head .on one end thereof, pivotal meansmounting the opposite end of said shank directly on said whippen, saidmeans producing movement of the hammer in unison with the whippen whenthe head of the hammer is moved into striking contact with an associatedpiano string; and means for causing positive independent reversemovement of the hammer relative to the whippen immediately followinghead contact with said string, said last-named means comprising a jacklever pivotally carried by said shank, said lever having one end thereofengaged normally with a shoulder on said whippen to cause the hammer tomove in a string-striking direction in unison with said whippen, andplunger means movably carried by said shank and pivotally connected withsaid lever, said plunger means being engageable with said mountingmember following string contact by said head to effect release of saidlever from engagement with said whippen shoulder and to produce reverseswinging movement of said hammer in a direction spacing the head thereoffrom the associated string.

3. A unitary mechanical piano action comprising: a relatively stationarymounting member having a wedge formation thereon, a key-actuated whippenbodily carried by said member for pivotal movement thereon, said whippenbeing provided at one end thereof with a vertically offset shoulderedportion, a hammer comprising a shank and a string-striking head, meanspivotally uniting the hammer shank at one end to said whippen, pivotedjack means carried by said hammer shank and having normally lockedengagement with the shouldered portion of said whippen to retain saidhammer positively for swinging movement with said whippen during forwardmovement of the hammer into striking contact with a piano string, aplunger slidably carried by said hammer shank and pivotally connectedwith said jack means, said plunger including a contact member engageablewith the wedge formation of said stationary mounting member as saidhammer reaches a string-striking position, said plunger being operableupon engagement of said contact member with said wedge formation torelease said jack means from its normally locked engagement with theshouldered portion of said whippen and to produce positive, limitedreverse movement of said hammer in a direction away from the associatedpiano string.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, and wherein spring means areprovided serving to yieldably resist turning movement of said hammer inresponse to forces applied thereto by said plunger means in rocking saidhammer in a direction removing the head thereof from string engagement.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, and wherein spring means areprovided serving to yieldably resist turning movement of said hammer inresponse to forces applied thereto by said plunger means in rocking saidhammer in a direction removing the head thereof from string engagement,and additional spring means cooperative with said jack lever and urgingthe same in a direction to maintain contact thereof with the whippenshoulder normally engaged thereby.

6. A unitary piano action comprising a single mounting post forattachment to a stationary frame element of a piano; a key-actuatedwhippen pivotally connected with said mounting post for swingingmovement in a vertical plane, said whippen being formed at one endthereof with vertically offset upper and lower steps; a hammer includinga string-striking head portion and a shank portion; means connecting theshank portion of said hammer with said whippen and providing for limitedpivotal movement of said hammer with respect to said whippen; a jacklever pivotally connected with the shank portion of said hammer andhaving an end normally engaging the upper step of said whippen, saidjack lever serving to support said hammer for unified swinging movementwith said whippen to a string-striking position; cam means carried onsaid mounting post; and plunger means slidably carried by the shankportion of said hammer and pivotally connected with said jack lever,said plunger being arranged on the shank portion of said hammer toengage said cam means as said hammer reaches its stringstriking positionand being movable upon engagement with said cam means to rock said jacklever to disengage the end thereof from the upper step of said whippenand to rock said hammer backwardly away from its stringstrikingposition.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS132,709 Brooks Nov. 5, 1872 693,131 Hamilton Feb. 11, 1902 827,952Battalia Aug. 7, 1906 2,657,608 Wolfe Nov. 3, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS126,837 France Oct. 5, 1878

